Exotec raises USD90m to support international expansion of its warehouse robotics solutions

Submitted 29/09/2020 - 10:53am

Exotec, a robotics solution provider for the logistics sector and creator of the Skypod 3D warehouse robots, has closed a USD90 million financing round, led by 83North – with participation from Dell Technologies Capital – and supported by historical investors, Iris Capital and Breega.

This new funding will further fuel Exotec’s international development, especially their recently formed Atlanta and Tokyo teams and help them meet the growing demand for warehouse automation technology in the USA and Asia. Exotec has the ambition to become the leader in robotics solution for logistics and forecasts they will produce up to 4000 robots per year by 2021.

Exotec’s revolutionary robots allow retailers and e-merchants to quadruple their warehouse productivity and increase up to five times their storage capacity. Their autonomous robots can move in a unique three-dimensional pattern at a speed of 13 feet per second, creating a faster and more efficient picking and preparation process.

Warehouse robotics have a 45 per cent CAGR while the global automation market’s CAGR is also constantly growing by 10 to 15 per cent.

“There is a global need for robotics solutions in warehouses, but logisticians are often concerned to invest in traditional fixed automation in this fast-changing world. This USD50 billion market should be supplied with flexible and efficient solutions to fulfill customers’ needs and new shopping timelines. We offer a new generation of warehouse robotics and have the largest deployed and operational systems across three continents,” says Romain Moulin, Co-founder and CEO of Exotec.

Exotec revenue doubled in 2020 as several new international clients, including Carrefour and Fast Retailing (Uniqlo group), adopted their technology in key warehouses. This latest funding round will allow the company to further expand and deliver their fully adjustable robotics solution to a wider range of clients in the US, Europe and Asia, across numerous B2B and B2C retail sectors such as fashion, grocery, pharmaceutical, hardware, and manufacturing.

In North America, Exotec is expanding its footprint to meet the increasing demand for automated logistics. The company has signed partnerships with highly experienced American integrators such as AHS, S&H Systems and Conveyco to accelerate market penetration. Exotec is also currently hiring in North America to support its operations and its growth.

“Brands and retailers are seeing tremendous surge in e-commerce, accelerated by the current pandemic. They must now transform their supply chain to gain competitive advantage. Exotec is addressing this challenge and is the leading player in scalable robotics systems,” says Rudi Lueg, Managing Director of North America at Exotec.

The partnership announced at the end of 2019 between Exotec and international retail company, Fast Retailing, is now delivering its benefits to the group. The technology is under deployment in two warehouses in Japan, with 1000 Skypods improving logistics efficiency for Uniqlo stores. Exotec Nihon has been created to support the operations in Japan and over 30 employees will be hired in the coming months.

Leading the round, Laurel Bowden, Partner at 83North, says: “83North has invested in many teams and companies enabling the future of ecommerce. In our opinion, Exotec is one of those special companies, where the founders’ backgrounds, company culture, outstanding technology, delighted customers and a rapidly changing market make it a very unique investment.”

Scott Darling, President of Dell Technologies Capital, adds: “Exotec is revolutionising the adoption of robotics through its innovative and unique technology. Having relied heavily on world-class R&D skills aligned with solid industrial processes, Exotec is at the forefront of this burgeoning market and clearly the leader in the field.”

Adding to this, Julien-David Nitlech, Managing Partner at Iris Capital notes: “Exotec has proven they can address their market needs in many new ways in the past year, scaling in very selective markets such as Japan or food distribution. We are confident that this new round will fuel yet another record growth phase across three continents.”

François Paulus, Founding-Partner at Breega, says: “As Exotec’s earliest investors, we are both delighted and proud to witness first-hand Exotec’s trailblazing growth and expansion into international markets. Founders Romain and Renaud have been able to meet growing demands while building and scaling a great team in record time. We’re looking forward to seeing what progress this latest fundraise brings.”

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